CHRISTMAS STUFF

The Meaning of the Candy Cane

Many Years ago a candy maker wanted to make a candy that would symbolize the true meaning of Christmas--Jesus. The hard candy was shaped like a J to represent the rock of all ages. The candy was made of white to stand for the pureness of Jesus. The red stripes represent the blood that Jesus shed to save us from our sins. So next time you see a candy cane, take a moment to remember the true meaning of Christmas…

CANDY CANE STORY

http://www.angelrays.com/fla/legend.html

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the town

Not a sign of Baby Jesus was anywhere to be found.
The people were all busy with Christmas time chores

Like decorating, and baking, and shopping in stores.
No one sang "Away in a manger, no crib for a bed".

Instead, they sang of Santa dressed-up in bright red.
Mama watched Martha Stewart, Papa drank beer from a tap.

As hour upon hour the presents they'd wrap
When what from the T.V. did they suddenly hear?

'Cept an ad.. which told of a big sale at Sears.
So away to the mall they all flew like a flash...Buying things on credit... and others with cash!
And, as they made their way home

From their trip to the mall,

Did they think about Jesus? Oh, no... not at all.
Their lives were so busy with their Christmas time things

No time to remember Christ Jesus, the King.
There were presents to wrap and cookies to bake.

How could they stop and remember who died for their sake?
To pray to the Savior... they had no time to stop.

Because they needed more time to "Shop til they dropped!"
On Wal-mart! On K-mart! On Target! On Penney's!

On Hallmark! On Zales! A quick lunch at Denny's
From the big stores downtown to the stores at the mall

They would dash away, dash away, and visit them all!
And up on the roof, there arose such a clatter

As grandpa hung icicle lights up on his brand new step ladder.
He hung lights that would flash. He hung lights that would twirl.

Yet, he never once prayed to Jesus... Light of the World.
Christ's eyes... how they twinkle! Christ's Spirit... how merry!

Christ's love... how enormous! All our burdens... He'll carry!
So instead of being busy, overworked, and uptight

Let's put Christ back in Christmas and enjoy some good nights!
Merry Christmas, my friends!

Ruth went to her mail box and there was only one letter. She picked it up and looked at it before opening, but then she looked at the envelope again. There was no stamp, no postmark, only her name and address. She read the letter:

Dear Ruth: I`m going to be in your neighborhood Saturday afternoon and I'd like to stop by for a visit.

Love Always, Jesus

Her hands were shaking as she placed the letter on the table. "Why would the Lord want to visit me? I'm nobody special. I don't have anything to offer." With that thought, Ruth remembered her empty kitchen cabinets. "Oh my goodness, I really don't have anything to offer. I'll have to run down to the store and buy something for dinner."

She reached for her purse and counted out its contents. Five dollars and forty cents.

Well, I can get some bread and cold cuts, at least." She threw on her coat and hurried out the door. A loaf of French bread, a half-pound of sliced turkey, and a carton of milk...leaving Ruth with grand total twelve cents to last her until Monday. Nonetheless, she felt good as she headed home, her meager offerings tucked under her arm.

"Hey lady, can you help us,lady?"

Ruth had been so absorbed in her dinner plans, she hadn't even noticed two figures huddled in the alleyway. A man and a woman, both of them dressed in little more than rags.

"Look lady, I ain't got a job, ya know, and my wife and I have been living out here on the street, and, well, now it's getting cold and we're getting kinda hungry and, well, if you could help us. Lady, we'd really appreciate it."

Ruth looked at them both. They were dirty, they smelled bad and frankly, she was certain that they could get some kind of work if they really wanted to.

"Sir, I'd like to help you, but I'm a poor woman myself. All I have is a few cold cuts and some bread, and I'm having an important guest for dinner tonight and I was planning on serving that to Him."

"Yeah, well, okay lady, I understand. Thanks anyway." The man put his arm around the woman's shoulders, turned and headed back into the alley.

As she watched them leave, Ruth felt a familiar twinge in her heart. "Sir, wait!"

The couple stopped and turned as she ran down the alley after them. "Look, why don't you take this food. I'll figure out something else to serve my guest." She handed the man her grocery bag.

"Thank you lady. Thank you very much!"

"Yes, thank you!" It was the man's wife, and Ruth could see now that she was shivering.

"You know, I've got another coat at home. Here, why don't you take this one." Ruth unbuttoned her jacket and slipped it over the woman's shoulders. Then smiling, she turned and walked back to the street...without her coat and with nothing to serve her guest.

"Thank you lady! Thank you very much!"

Ruth was chilled by the time she reached her front door, and worried too. The Lord was coming to visit and she didn't have anything to offer Him. She fumbled through her purse for the door key. But as she did, she noticed another envelope in her mailbox. "That's odd. The mailman doesn't usually come twice in one day."

Dear Ruth: It was so good to see you again. Thank you for the lovely meal. And thank you, too, for the beautiful coat.

Love Always, Jesus

The air was still cold, but even without her coat, Ruth no longer noticed.